The Bibliophile's Compass

🔴 1942 Anne Frank's family goes into hiding in After House, Amsterdam 🔴 2021 Emily R. Austin’s Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead published 🔴 2023 Don't Hang Up by Benjamin Stevenson published

Title : The Birthmark Author : Nathaniel Hawthorne Publication Year : 1843 Pages : 19 Rating :  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐   ​ Genre : Horror, Science Fiction, Allegory Source : Book Opening Sentence : In the latter part of the last century there lived a man of science, an eminent proficient in every branch of natural philosophy, who not long before our story opens had made experience of a spiritual affinity more attractive than any chemical one. This is the tale of a mad doctor with a crazy obsession over a birthmark, thinking he can play God. Everyone thinks he’s a genius, but deep down, he’s just a fraud. And guess what? His wife eventually figures it out, but does that stop her from trusting his medical wizardry? If you think so, bless your heart—you’re as naive as she is and might deserve an eye-roll! At first, everyone—including Georgiana—sees the birthmark as a cute little charm. But then her husband, driven by his obsession, convinces her it’s the most unforgivable flaw since, well, pi...

🔴 1715 Ottoman troops storm citadel of Acrocorinth in the Peloponnese, massacring a large part of the population and selling the rest into slavery. Inspires Lord Byron's poem "The Siege of Corinth"

Title : The Wrestling Match Author : Buchi Emecheta Publication Year : 1983, June 1 Pages : 74 Rating : ⭐⭐ Genre : Children’s Book, African Literature, Coming-of-age Source : Book Opening Sentence : It was during that quiet part of the evening when all the buyers and sellers of the Eke market had gone home. This book isn’t something I would typically choose, but I felt compelled to read it, so here I am. Initially, I approached it thinking it was a children’s book, but I believe it is better suited for young adults. Regardless, it's not my usual preference. The writing style is simple, clear, and direct, avoiding unnecessary embellishments. The story follows a boy’s coming of age in a Nigerian village after the Nigerian Civil War. Emecheta explores the struggles faced by a generation shaped by conflict and trauma; although this backdrop looms large, its effects are profoundly felt. The boys, having grown up amid turmoil, display a rebellious attitude, distancing themselves...

🔴 1845 American philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau moves into his shack on Walden Pond 🔴 1855 In Brooklyn, New York, the first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems, "Leaves of Grass" is published 🔴 1862 Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) creates Alice in Wonderland for Alice Liddell on a family boat trip on the river Isis (Thames) in Oxford 🔴 1968 Arthur Kopit's play "Indians" based on the life of Buffalo Bill Cody premieres in London with the Royal Shakespeare Company 🔴 1973 Alan Ayckbourn's play "Absurd Person Singular," makes its London debut

Title : The Assignation Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1834, January Pages : 15 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐ Genre : Romance Source : eBook and audiobook @storytel.tr Opening Sentence : ILL-FATED and mysterious man! Okay! Once again, Poe is confusing me, and I need to figure out what’s happening! Apparently, I read a tragic romance, and you definitely need Venice for such an atmosphere! It is poetic, beautiful, dark—very, very dark—confusing, and mesmerizing! The title hints at the secret between the lovers. The story begins with the beautiful Marchesa’s child falling into the Grand Canal (I still can’t understand how this happens). Meanwhile, her old husband, Mentoni, is playing his guitar amid the screams and chaos, and eventually seems to get bored with the mayhem. Then, a young hero jumps into the canal to save the child, and his heroism is successful. The Marchesa blushes as she receives her rescued child and says something to him that feels coded. Okay! Next, our narrator,...

🔴 2007 Liz Moore’s The Words of Every Song published

Title : A Tale of the Ragged Mountains Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1844 Pages : 13 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐ Genre : Adventure, Science Fiction, Mystery Source : eBook and audiobook @storytel.tr Opening Sentence: During the fall of the year 1827, while residing near Charlottesville, Virginia, I casually made the acquaintance of Mr. Augustus Bedloe. First of all, dear Mr. Poe, this is not the tale of the Ragged Mountains, but rather that of Mr. Augustus Bedloe. Secondly, I believe "mystery" would be a more fitting title for this story. At the beginning, you may think you understand what you are dealing with, but you will find you are mistaken at every stage of your imagined discovery. As the story unfolds, you might initially believe you are encountering a supernatural being—perhaps a vampire, a zombie, or something similar. However, you are soon informed that the situation has a medical nature. Then, it shifts again, leading you to consider concepts like time trav...

🔴 1998 The World and Other Places: Stories by Jeanette Winterson published 🔴 2024 Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods published 🔴 2024 The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali published

Title : Silence Author : Edgar Allan Poe Publication Year : 1837 Pages : 5 Rating : ⭐⭐ Genre : horror, fable Source : eBook and audiobook @storytel.tr Opening Sentence : The mountain pinnacles slumber; valleys, crags and caves are silent. "Silence - A Fable" by Edgar Allan Poe tells the story of a man encountering a demon in a desolate land. Although the reason behind this encounter is unclear, the demon feels it is his responsibility to warn the narrator about the horrors of silence and desolation by sharing another story. The narrative focuses primarily on describing a river and the landscape in Libya, vividly illustrating silence and desolation through the overwhelming power of nature. This depiction creates an uncanny image that both frightens and mesmerizes the reader.

🔴 1535 Thomas More goes on trial in England on charges of treason for refusing to accept Henry VIII's supremacy over the Pope 🔴 1972 Feminist magazine "Ms" founded by Gloria Steinem publishes its first regular issue with Wonder Woman on the cover 🔴 2006 Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson published